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This Mind Sees Beauty

This mind is not as simple as it once was. It used to be filled with the simple things in life: toys, kicking a ball, a mother’s love and food, the constant companionship of a much loved brother.

Now, it is overloaded with information. Facts, figures and useless minutiae. It is also filled with memories, of people and places, some are dead and some are living.
 

 
This mind never ceases to be amazed at the whole spectrum of human nature from the kindness, warmth and generosity of strangers to the meanness, gossiping, petty and downright dangerous acts of other humans.

This mind  has worked hard for betterment, education and an understanding of most things that surround it. A mind that struggles to tolerate fools, the uneducated and bigots.

This mind is as fit as it has ever been. It regards its body with some disdain but an acceptance. It reminds itself the mind is superior to the body. The mind can do things like nobody can. The mind does not grow old.

There are times when it thinks it is weary but it is mistaken. It is the body that becomes wearisome.
 
This body is now divided into three parts. The lower body including the legs; the upper body including the torso and arms, and the upper body comprising of the head. Then the mind interrupts and says, ‘The head is me. Leave me out of this!’

Of course, the mind is right. A head can look pretty or handsome but its true worth is inside. The mind wins!
 
Or does it? The mind can control many things. It cannot control aging. This mind is fit. Its lower body, including legs and hips, is aging. It, and they, can no longer perform like they once did. Some of the simplest of tasks, like walking, have become difficult. The torso and arms are doing okay.  The back has an occasional grumble to the head. A little flabby muscle tone in places but heck, that’s normal.

The mind now knows things it did not in yesteryear. It now knows the body missed chances of experiencing white-water rafting, for example. Or, maybe skiing. ‘Too late’ now say the painful legs and hips to the mind. Or, is that the mind talking to itself? Oh, never mind, you know what I mean.

This mind surveys the world as it is now. It sees a younger generation sedentary and merely exercising fingers when using a cell phone, tablet or computer. ‘The folly of youth’ the mind exclaims.

Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.”
― Franz Kafka

This mind see beauty in faces. This mind sees beauty in peaceful souls. This mind sees beauty in nature. This mind will never grow old.

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4 Comments

  1. g g

    “From a certain point onward there is no longer any turning back. That is the point that must be reached.”
    ― Franz Kafka, The Trial

    At 70 in a few weeks I still haven’t found that point to not return to that which was my awakening to real peace and beauty – working with the dying, they gave me a reason to live to die.

    Well said, Steve 🙂

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